weston williamson + partner and building trust international design brick-clad school in cambodia

a new school in rural cambodia, designed and built pro-bono by weston williamson + partners alongside building trust international officially opened on international children’s day.

a new school in rural cambodia, designed and built pro-bono by weston williamson + partners alongside building trust international officially opened on international children’s day. BTi worked with WW+P, engenuiti and integration to design a building which was flexible and adaptable, meeting current and future needs. the school design comprises of three additional classrooms, a library and a covered external classroom with a play area, which doubles as a small amphitheater.

until now, the school in khyaung village, 40km north east of phnom penh has catered for 359 pupils aged 3-17 in two old buildings. according to weston williamson + partners and building trust international, the lack of accommodation has meant that children travelling from six surrounding villages to this, the area’s only school catering for children up to secondary age, had to attend in shifts, part-time. the new school’s innovative, cost-effective and low maintenance design maximises the use of external and internal spaces, incorporating traditional verandas to enable teaching and play in small groups. the classrooms open onto the central school yard area, whilst cross ventilation is maximised by the use of high level openings and using the bricks cavities to increase airflow.